Toyota Sued By Victim's Family; Defective Throttle Blamed (TM)

In what amounts to even more bad news for a company already heavily battered and bruised, relatives of Noriko Uno, a 66-year old woman killed in an automobile accident last year, have sued Toyota (NYSE: TM) for negligence.

The accident occurred in August 2009, as Uno was driving her Toyota Camry. According to the suit, the car spontaneously increased speed, causing Uno to lose control and crash. The accident occurred on the same day as another fatal crash, this one involving a Lexus and four victims, including an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer. Witnesses claim that Uno's car sped up dramatically and began weaving in and out of traffic before hitting a curb and crashing into a pole and then a tree.

The suit alleges that Toyota was negligent in ensuring that its "drive-by-wire" throttle system was functional and free of defects. Toyota insists that the electronic system is not to blame for the accidents caused by random acceleration; instead, they state that the causes are purely mechanical and mainly occur because the accelerator pedal sticks, or is jammed by improperly-fitted floor mats.

This lawsuit comes after Toyota issued recalls for over 8 million vehicles, including 2.3 million in the United States. Shares of Toyota have plummeted 27 points since their 52-week high of $91.97 in January. Public perception of the controversy does not seem to have abated, and will likely continue to turn negative towards the Japanese automaker for some time to come.